northern virginia: The Best Ruby Tuesday in Northern Virginia
- 10/25/08 01:55 AM
I have had more than my share of disappointment from the Ruby Tuesday restaurant chain. I live closest to the Gainesville location, and not too far from the Manassas location. Since these are close, I go there when I want a rather guilt-free meal out (I love a salad bar). However, I always end up disappointed.
Last night my husband and I were out and about in the Chantilly area for an event. Afterward, we were starving, and decided to stop by (begrudgingly) to Ruby Tuesday in South Riding. Again, our expectations are usually set very low...so we weren't exactly looking forward … (10 comments)
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northern virginia: Manassas, VA: Freedom Center at George Mason University
- 10/16/08 08:46 AM
The Freedom Center is not just for George Mason University students. In the Manassas area, the Freedom Center at George Mason University has become the work out destination of choice for many residents. It is convenient to Manassas, Bristow, Nokevsille and Gainesville.
With everything you would want in a gym, there is little need to look any further. The Freedom Center offers an indoor track, basketball, aerobics, yoga, raquetball, strength training and cardiovascular equipment.
My favorite feature of the Freedom Center is their expansive indoor pools. Lanes are always available if you want to swim laps. Or if you prefer a water aerobics … (6 comments)
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northern virginia: Ahhh...the Smell of Fall
- 10/01/08 09:37 AM
Today was the first day in Northern Virginia that actually FELT like Fall. The cool, crisp air. Even the sky was accomodating with it's overcast blue and gray layers.
So we opened up some windows to air out the house. It was finally cooler outside than inside. Like a magnet, that window attracted some others who were happy to smell Fall. Shadow and Phoebe are two of our youngest cats that we adopted last Winter. They were six months old and feral at the time. They are more lovable with people than we could have ever imagined. I finally was able … (20 comments)
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northern virginia: Bristow, VA: Braemar's New Traffic Light!!
- 09/26/08 03:48 AM
The intersection of Tartan Hills Parkway/Rob Roy Way and Sudley Manor Drive has been a treacherous one from the beginnig of our community. Wide, landscaped medians have made left hand turns across the divided, four lane road a guessing game.
While this intersection had been a magnet for fender benders between cars, the catalyst for the new traffic light happened the summer of 2007. A teenage boy, crossing the intersection on a bicycle, was struck by a car going a minimum of 45 mph (the legal speed limit on Sudley Manor Road). Luckily, the young man made a full recovery, but … (4 comments)
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northern virginia: Relocating and Need a Neighborhood Close to Reliable Daycare?
- 09/12/08 10:06 AM
If you are relocating and need a neighborhood with licensed, professional daycare, look no further than Braemar in Bristow, VA. In terms of housing, you will find a mix of single family homes of all sizes, townouses and condos. There is something for every price range. There is close access to the VRE (Virginia Railway Express) and Route 66. And there are two, self-contained daycare facilities within the community.
In the first section of Braemar, with homes built between 1997 and 2000, you will find KinderCare, located just off of Braemar Parkway. To find out about specific services, rates and enrollment, you can call … (4 comments)
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northern virginia: Hanna Hits Northern Virginia
- 09/06/08 03:11 AM
There is a lot of rain falling in Northern Virginia today...much needed rain. The shot to the right is the view of the constant rain and darkness as of ten o'clock this morning. As I type this, (now 11am) it is just starting to get windy too.
I don't think we expect much damage from Hanna. There are always downed trees when we get substantial winds. The other concern is flash flooding in low-lying areas.
In Prince William County, you can count on flooding on Piper Lane, which is a road used to access the Manassas Regional Airport and the Broad … (14 comments)
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northern virginia: Mother Nature has a Sense of Humor
- 09/02/08 10:30 AM
This picture is not a joke. It is not plastic. It is a type of that mushroom grows out of my garden in the fall. It is called a stinkhorn.
The first time I encountered one, it actually caught my nose's attention first. You see, it smells like human semen. I had heard of bushes that smelled like that, so I thought it must be something in the woods by my home. It was, after all, the first fall in my new home.
I walked to the end of my porch and lying there in the mulch, was a sight much like this picture … (22 comments)
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northern virginia: Coming Soon to Gainesville, VA---Chili's!!!!
- 08/04/08 10:02 AM
Gainesville, VA is growing so fast. It's hard to imagine that feeling I had, when I first moved here from Fairfax, VA, that I had moved into the boonies.
So many shops and restaurants are springing up all around. Linens and Things, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sports Authority, Pei Wei, Michael's. And just the other day something that really caught my attention:
I love Chili's. It's been one of my favorite casual dining restaurants for twenty years. And now there will be a brand spanking new one in Gainesville, at the intersection of Wellington Road & Linton Hall Road. Woo-hoo!!! Anyone … (6 comments)
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northern virginia: A Year Round Favorite
- 07/19/08 09:09 AM
For me, Ben & Jerry's ice cream has always been a treat, but not my go to ice cream. I think I am changing my mind.
The Ben & Jerry's flavors that divide my attention are Phish Food and Dublin Mudslide. It truly depends on my mood, but I do get my chocolate fix from either.
I first learned of Phish Food at L&N Seafood Restaurant...a restaurant long gone in the DC area. The crunchy fudge fish are great with the marshmallow & caramel swirled chocolate ice cream. What's not to love there?
Dublin Mudslide was a late night grocery … (4 comments)
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northern virginia: Bad Way to Start the Week
- 06/29/08 11:19 AM
I woke up this morning not expecting to do much in the way of work. I had nothing scheduled and definitely planned to take some much needed "me" time.
I found a message from someone on my voice mail. You can always tell a fellow Realtor, even when they don't leave their company name.
So I call him back and proceed to answer some questions about a short sale listing I have. You can hear he is in the car with clients. They were talking in the background.
Then, all of a sudden, his car erupts in shocked cries. He pardons … (10 comments)
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northern virginia: Ready to Open the Door to Your New Home?
- 06/21/08 01:57 PM
The idea of buying a home can be extremely intimidating, especially if you're a first time homebuyer. You have no idea where to start, and no idea who to ask for help. Start with a Realtor.
Do an online search for agents that know that your marketplace. Give them a call and see if you would feel comfortable house hunting with them. Another way to find a Realtor, is to ask a trusted friend if they know a good Realtor. Or if you know a Realtor in another marketplace, ask them if they can recommend someone in yours. No matter how you find your Realtor, … (2 comments)
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northern virginia: Active Adult Communities: Are They Right For You?
- 06/21/08 07:17 AM
Active Adult Communities are a fairly new thing in the Northern Virginia real estate market. Typically, they are age restricted to people 55 or over.
These communities are geared toward soon-to-retire, semi-retired and retired adults that still like an active lifestyle. They usually feature a large clubhouse for social gatherings, fitness, pools and tennis. In some of the more extravagant, you can also find a gofl course winding it's way through the community.
Upkeep for these communities isn't cheap when it comes to HOA fees, but you do get so much for your money. Access to pools (usually at least one … (8 comments)
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northern virginia: VA Loans for VA Homes
- 05/26/08 05:03 AM
Are you a potential first-time homebuyer that qualifies for a VA (Veterans Administration) Loan? If you do, you'd be silly not to request your Certificate of Eligibility and start the home buying process. You can find out if you qualify here.
VA Loans may be the last true source of 100% financing, at a great rate. While there is a funding fee associated with the loan, it is a minimal fee (2.15%) for first time users, and can financed right into the loan. The funding fee does up each time you use your VA Loan capability, but again, can be financed into the … (4 comments)
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northern virginia: Not Your Typical Settlement Delay
- 05/03/08 04:05 AM
Buying a home is never without it's nail biting moments. I'm used to just about anything that comes up, but this past week I had a new one thrown out there by the lender's underwriter.
The property that my client is purchasing is a townhouse. It happens to be near an electrical substation and power lines. The underwriter contacted me the DAY OF SETTLEMENT, saying that they needed a written statement from owner of the power lines as to whether or not the townhouse was in the "fall zone."
I call the City as they provide all the utilities in this area, … (8 comments)
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northern virginia: I Have A Client That Came on the Market at the Going Market Price.....
- 05/02/08 12:48 PM
It's been taking as long as four months to sell townhouses in Fairfax County, VA. I alerted my most recent seller to this before we ever went "active".
We looked at the comps together, and saw that, due to the slumping market, his home value was not what he had anticipated. Here's where it got weird (I say sarcastically). He actually priced his home CORRECTLY.
The first day on the market we had one agent through. Today (day #2) another. Tomorrow....two are scheduled. So my client calls and asks, "Do you think I underpriced it?"
My answer was simple. "You put your … (6 comments)
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northern virginia: A Flood of Memories When I Saw This Building.....
- 04/03/08 03:06 AM
When I was a kid, growing up in Fairfax City, we had a High's Dairy Store. It was where, if I was lucky, Dad would drive my little brother and I once a week and we could pick out a half-gallon of ice cream for dessert. Their ice cream was sooooo good. And they had so many flavors behind their glass freezer doors. I loved the chocolate, especially when Dad would make shakes. No one made a milk shake like Dad!
High's (at least in Fairfax City) was gone by the time I was aging in double digits. It had … (0 comments)
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northern virginia: What Listing Agents Can Do to Make Bank Response Time Quicker in Short Sales
- 03/31/08 11:07 AM
I really should entitle any post I write about short sales as "Musings from the Edge of Sanity." I keep reading posts about Realtors frustrations with various banks, and how loooong they are taking to approve a short sale. I think it's time for us to take a look at how WE, the wonderful, hardworking Realtors out there, may be contributing to, and can help alleviate, some of the back-up.
FIRST, we must understand that the banks are not a literal party to the contract. Their relationship with the seller is similar to that of the home inspector to the buyer. … (8 comments)
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northern virginia: Best Wedding Videographers in DC Metro Area!!
- 03/31/08 10:19 AM
My very first clients in the real estate business have been building a heck of a business for themselves. Pernell and Karen Disney started their own wedding videography business and have keep it growing!
I've seen their videography work in their finished products, and their work is excellent. In addition to the video work they do for brides and grooms, The Disneys have done special ocassion videos like Baby Announcements and School Events. They've even shot television commercials for local businesses.
In The Knot's Best of Weddings 2008, due to hit the stands any day, the Disney's business, Blue Square Productions, was named the … (6 comments)
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northern virginia: NVTA Taxes One Step Closer to Being Refunded
- 03/30/08 04:58 AM
Last week, Virginia Governor Kaine signed into law the bill that makes the Northern Virginia Tranportation Authority Tax unconstitutional, and sets the timelines for refunding the money collected from home sellers since January 1, 2008. You can review a copy of the bill the Governor signed at www.hb3202.virginia.gov.
The timelines do indicate the various clerks of the court that received these funds from settlement companies/ agents, have sixty days to develop guidelines to return the money to these companies that collected the funds at settlement. From there, the settlement companies/agents have ninety days from the date they receive the funds from the … (4 comments)
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northern virginia: Happy Frist Time Buyers in Culpeper
- 03/15/08 01:49 PM
I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to represent these first time homebuyers. After looking at nearly three dozen homes, THEY FOUND IT!
The kitchen of their dreams did also come attached to a house, with four HUGE bedrooms, family room (with fireplace), dining room, living room, loft, sunroom, den, a GIGANTIC unfinished basement, and a deck with a screened in gazebo.
This family got a great deal! They got the hous, located in the new community of Highpoint in Culpeper, below appraisal and had the seller pay 3% of the sale price toward their closing costs. Final sales price … (4 comments)
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I have had more than my share of disappointment from the Ruby Tuesday restaurant chain. I live closest to the Gainesville location, and not too far from the Manassas location. Since these are close, I go there when I want a rather guilt-free meal out (I love a salad bar). However, I always end up disappointed.
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